13 Favorites

Episodes

077 Should You Train When You're Really Tired?

8/15/2017

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I trained BJJ today despite being fresh off the plane, jet lagged and exhausted, so it seemed like a good day to tackle today's topic, namely whether you should train on those days when you're so tired you can't see straight. Also I cover some examples of how to modify your workout on those lower-energy days so you don't get injured. Hope this helps all you busy people trying to juggle life and work and training!

Duration: 00:13:11

076 - Mayweather vs McGregor, Don't Waste Your Money!

7/31/2017

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In this mini-episode I talk Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor with Ritchie Yip, and we both come to the same conclusion about betting on this fight. Listen to this episode before you put money down on Conor McGregor

Duration: 00:13:09

075 - How to Train When There's No School Close to You

7/25/2017

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You want to train martial arts but there isn't a good school anywhere nearby, so what are your options? Here is my best advice on how you can still learn, still train, and still get good!

Duration: 00:09:42

074 - An 80/20 Analysis of the Leglock Game in Modern Competition

7/23/2017

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An 80/20 analysis of the leglocking game based on high level no gi competition, leglock safety, how to learn BJJ efficiently, best practises when teaching jiu-jitsu, and a ton more with BJJ black belt Rob Biernacki, my co-author of The Modern Leglock Formula available now at Grapplearts.com/leglocks

Duration: 00:48:57

EP 073 - Which is Better for Self Defense: Striking or Grappling?

7/21/2017

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If you could only do one which would be better for self defense: striking or grappling? The answer is grappling of course, but the reasons why might surprise you...

Duration: 00:03:17

"Roadhouse never happens," Bouncer Chad Skands on Managing Chaos at the Door

7/18/2017

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Longtime bouncer Chad Skands talks about managing multiple attacker scenarios, continuing to think and use your brain in a critical situation, the right way to deescalate situations, and why ripping someone's throat out Roadhouse-style is frowned upon in the security industry.

Duration: 00:24:17

EP 071 - Stephan Answers BJJ and Training Questions

7/13/2017

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What would I do different as a white belt if I could go back in time? What are the best guards that go together with the butterfly guard? Can you become an elite level grappler if you have both a job and a family? And you've choked someone out in a streetfight... what now? All this and more in today's Q&A episode.
In this episode I make reference to articles on Grapplearts which can be found here: http://www.grapplearts.com/articles and also to my main youtube channel which is here:...

Duration: 00:29:40

EP 070 - How to Pick a Good BJJ School

7/7/2017

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This is an important episode because in it I talk about how to find a BJJ instructor and school that'll work for you and how to avoid ending up at a school where you'll end up getting hurt or wasting your time. And yes, this same information applies directly to finding good schools in any sort of martial art and not just Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!

Duration: 00:11:00

EP 069 - Three Techniques for Dealing with Fear in Competition or a Streetlight

6/29/2017

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In this episode I talk about the concrete steps you can take to control your fear and harness the power of the adrenaline dump that comes with the fight of flight reflex. Properly used this power turns you into a superhero rather than a gibbering idiot! Also check out my second site http://www.selfdefensetutorials.com and make sure that you subscribe to my self-defense oriented youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj4JOZ3jvgkHPYew0ksfDZw

Duration: 00:12:04

EP 067 - The No Gi Competition Landscape with Matt Kwan

6/19/2017

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This is a great conversation I had with no gi competitor Matt Kwan in which we covered everything from domination of leglocks in the modern no gi grappling environment, to the influence of rule sets in determining the expression of a martial art, to balancing training with the rest of life life. Give it a listen - I think you'll like it!
Follow Matt on Instagram @bjj_mattk or visit his school site http://www.www.onguardfc.com

Duration: 01:04:51

EP 066 - How Do You Make a Technique Functional Against a Real Opponent

6/12/2017

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Regardless of whether you train BJJ, MMA or a self-defense oriented martial art you're faced with the same dilemma: how do you take a technique you're shown in class and actually make it work against someone who is resisting you 100%? The key is progressive resistance, and in this episode I go into the 5 training modalities you should use to functionalise your techniques.

I think you'll like this one: in this episode I speak with Ando Mierzwa (Sensei Ando) who is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu San Soo with extensive experience in BJJ, Aikido, and Shotokan Karate. We talk about levels of realism in training, tribalism in the martial arts, the fighting arts as a tool to feel some control in a chaotic universe and much more.
Ando's website is http://www.senseiando.com and you can also follow him on Youtube at...

Duration: 01:06:00

EP 064 - Rant: Your Instructor Does NOT Know Everything!

6/4/2017

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In this rant I take on the myth perpetuated in many martial arts and by many martial arts instructors, namely that they are the source of all the knowledge you'll ever need. The truth is that everyone has holes in their knowledge and that the good instructors will admit that they don't know everything.

You'll really like this sit down I had with UFC star Alan Belcher, a man who has had some of the most exciting, edge-of-your-seat fights in UFC history. Alan shared lessons learned from his 26 MMA fights including details of cutting major amounts of weight pre-competition, his mindset while fighting Rousimar Palhares (one of the dirtiest and scariest fighter in MMA), lifting weights as physical therapy to hold his body together, how he structured his UFC training camps and preventing...

Duration: 00:49:08

EP 062 - It's NOT About the Bloody Belt!

5/26/2017

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I'm on fire for this one because it really gets under my skin when people focus on the wrong thing in their martial arts training. Boys and girls, it's about skill acquisition and NOT about the color of your belt. Get this wrong and it will destroy your relationship to the martial arts!

Duration: 00:12:57

EP 061 - The Steps for Getting Back to Training After an Injury

5/19/2017

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Unfortunately injuries are just part of the game, and getting back to training after recuperating from an injury is always a tricky business. In this episode I give some of my best advice about exactly how your return to the mats should be structured. This is advice I've learned the hard way so take my advice - for the longest time I didn't use it myself and I wish I had!

Duration: 00:08:49

EP 060 - Can You Learn Martial Arts with Only One Class Per Week?

5/16/2017

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This is for everyone - beginner and experienced martial artist - with a very tight schedule who can't train more than once a week. Can you still make progress? What are some tips for getting as good as you can when time is limited? How do you not lose hope, momentum and confidence during these inevitable training slowdowns?
Of course my main site is Grapplearts.com, but also check out my other site SelfDefenseTutorials.com where I'm posting a TON of martial arts and self defense tactics,...

Duration: 00:11:47

EP 049 - What's The Most Efficient Cardio For When You Have No Time?

5/11/2017

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Endurance is the most important physical attribute in combat sport, but it can be time consuming to develop. In this short episode I talk about some of the most efficient cardio protocols that I've used during periods of my life when I had no time for long, leisurely cardio.

I'm thrilled to bring you guys Pshemek Drabczynski who was my first BJJ teacher. Pshemek is a BJJ black belt, a WKA North American kickboxing champion, and a physical conditioning guru. In this episode we talk about martial arts specific fitness, getting stronger, improving endurance, eating properly preventing injuries, fasting and much more.
If you're in the Orange County area and are looking for a personal trainer make sure to check out Pshemek at http://www.besthometrainer.com

Duration: 00:26:32

EP057 - Rant: Great and Horrible Days on the Mat

5/4/2017

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A few days ago I had a great training session, and then today I had a bad one. Here's why I didn't get too excited or bothered by either one, and why you shouldn't either!